Doula

Dignity Health; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Dignity Health is seeking a compassionate Doula to provide emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant and postpartum patients, guiding them through birth and early parenting with respect and confidentiality.

You will advocate for informed choices, support communication with the medical team, and deliver culturally sensitive care during labor and postpartum, while maintaining California guidelines and ethical boundaries.

Qualifications

• BLS-CPR certification required within 90 days.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong empathy and compassionate attitude.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a birth team.
• Reliable, punctual and responsible.

Responsibilities

• Provide doula prenatal and postpartum visits with evidence-based information on pregnancy, labor, birth options, pain management, comfort measures, and newborn care.
• Assist clients in articulating preferences to the medical team and advocate for informed choices with emotional support and guidance.
• Be present in Labor and Delivery, providing continuous emotional and physical support during active labor and postpartum in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner.
• Facilitate communication between patients, partners/family, and medical staff to ensure patients' voices are heard and understand procedures and possible complications.
• Support new mothers and newborns postpartum with information on feeding and infant care, promoting bonding.
• Maintain client confidentiality, uphold ethical boundaries, and document care per Medi-Cal/insurer requirements; pursue ongoing education.

Skills

Communication

Active listening

Empathy

Independence

Job description

Job Summary And Responsibilities

As our Doula, you will provide comprehensive emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant and postpartum patients, empowering individuals and families to have a positive and informed pregnancy, birth, and early parenting experience. You will adhere to the highest standards of ethics, doula care, and scope of practice within California guidelines. As our Doula, you will provide comprehensive emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant and postpartum patients, empowering individuals and families to have a positive and informed pregnancy, birth, and early parenting experience. You will adhere to the highest standards of ethics, doula care, and scope of practice within California guidelines. Every day you will assist patients in communicating their preferences and concerns with the medical team, encourage patients toward self-advocacy and informed decision-making, and offer compassionate, hands-on support throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. To be successful in this role, you will bring passion and empathy to your work with patients and families, along with a strong commitment to ethical, patient-centered care. Excellent communication skills are essential for building trust with patients and collaborating effectively with the medical team.

• Provide doula prenatal and postpartum visits, offering evidence-based information on pregnancy, labor, birth options, pain management techniques, comfort measures, and newborn care.
• Assist clients in understanding the labor and birth process, helping them articulate preferences to the medical team and advocating for informed choices, while offering emotional support, active listening, and guidance on fears, anxieties, and cultural expectations.
• Be present in Labor and Delivery as scheduled, providing continuous emotional and physical support during active labor and postpartum in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner, including comfort measures, position changes, and hydration/nourishment guidance.
• Facilitate communication between patients, partners/family, and medical staff to ensure patients' voices are heard, and help patients understand procedures and possible complications related to vaginal and cesarean births.
• Provide continuing assistance and support to new mothers and newborns during the postpartum period, including informational support on feeding and infant care, and encouraging bonding between baby and family members.
• Maintain strict client confidentiality, uphold ethical boundaries, and adhere to the doula scope of practice as defined by California guidelines, documenting care per Medi-Cal/insurer requirements and continuously updating knowledge and skills through continuing education.

Required

Job Requirements

• Basic Life Support - CPR (BLS-CPR) — required within 90 days
• Excellent communication, active listening, and interpersonal skills
• Strong empathy, compassion, and a respectful, non-judgmental attitude
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative birth team
• Reliability, punctuality, and a strong sense of responsibility
• Ability to respond flexibly to client needs

Preferred

• Minimum of less than one (1) year demonstrated experience providing doula support (minimum 3 births)
• Fluency in both relevant non-English languages (Mixtec & Spanish)
• Spanish language proficiency certification for ambulatory and hospital work
• Experience working with diverse populations and family structures
• Knowledge of local community resources in California
• Specialized training in areas such as trauma-informed care, lactation support, and grief support

Where You’ll Work

Dignity Health’s Pacific Central Coast Health Centers (PHC) is a non-profit Community clinic organization comprised of more than 40 health centers located primarily from Ventura to Templeton, spanning the coast. Our experienced physicians and advanced practice providers offer a wide range of primary and specialty care services. PHC is a part of Dignity Health Central Coast’s award-winning network of outstanding hospitals, imaging centers, laboratories, and post-acute services. One Community. One Mission. One California

Pay Range

$28.10 - $41.80 /hour